Bubbleflurry couldn't believe this was happening. Blood accumulating under her, the screams of cats she couldn't hear.
"What? Why can't I hear you?" She cried out, but she heard nothing but the obnoxious ringing in her ears. "Hello? Mom!" She whimpered. Her fur was soaked, and she couldn't see her mother anymore. "Where's mom? Where is she?" The heat of sticky blood filled her ears, and the feeling of sloshing water inside them was unbearable. The world closed in around her, and she stumbled onto her side, falling unconscious.

The warmth of the medicine den and the tranquil smell of herbs awoke the young she-cat, and she paused, shaking her head confusedly. She tried to speak, but stopped as she heard nothing come out. She gasped.
     "Mushroompelt!" Bubbleflurry shrieked. not hearing an answer, she tried calling the medicine cat apprentice. "Grassypaw!" She couldn't even tell if she was actually saying it until Mushroompelt and her apprentice walked in, looking at her sympathetically.
     Grassypaw said something inaudible to her, and she shook her head, touching a paw to her ear. Grassypaw looked surprised, saying something that looked like "sorry".
     "It's okay. Where's Streamtail?" Bubbleflurry whispered, uncomfortable that she couldn't even hear herself. Her stomach dropped at Mushroompelt's pained look. "No, she can't be gone!" She cried, trying to stand. Her aching muscles dragged her down, and she crouched in her moss bed, sobbing. No! Streamtail is my everything! My mother, my best friend, my life! I can't lose her! Bubbleflurry thought frantically, hot tears running down her cheeks. She jumped as Mushroompelt gently tapped her, sniffling silently as she looked up at the she-cat above her.
     "Can you read lips?" Mushroompelt mouthed, and Bubbleflurry nodded.
     "Depends, I guess." She answered shakily, resting her chin on her paws. What had happened? She couldn't remember, no matter how hard she tried. "What happened to me and Streamtail?" She mumbled, her heart aching every time her mother's name slipped past her lips. She's gone. What if it's all my fault?
     Grassypaw mouthed, "we don't know for sure, but we think you fell in the river and lost your hearing from the water in your ears." Bubbleflurry gasped, sobbing loudly. I knew it! It is my fault! She shouldn't have saved me! It should have been me! She thought frantically, picturing her mothers kind hazel gaze. "We're guessing Streamtail drowned trying to save you. I'm really sorry for your loss." He murmured, trembling and looking down at his paws.
     Bubbleflurry couldn't build up the courage to reply, the dried tears on her face feeling odd and stiff. She shuffled her paws, looking out of the medicine den and into the sunlight. A wave of sorrow hit her as she realized she definitely couldn't be a warrior with this new disability. This was too much. She wanted to go back. She wanted to stay at camp, instead of dashing out to the river. But she knew she couldn't. Not ever. She glanced up at Mushroompelt, realizing she was saying something.
     "Hungry?" That was all Bubbleflurry caught. But she nodded, relaxing a bit. She just now realized the empty pit where her stomach once was, and groaned at the throbbing pain.
     "Very hungry." She answered, watching Mushroompelt pad out into the sunny clearing. She turned to Grassypaw. "Why did you look so sad when you told me what happened to Streamtail? I mean, she wasn't your mother." Bubbleflurry asked, trying not to sound too rude, though it was hard not being able to hear yourself. Grassypaw's eyes dilated, and he shuffled his paws, averting his gaze. Bubbleflurry blinked, trying to see if he was speaking.
     "It's just sad." He answered, lifting his muzzle temporarily so she could read his lips. She doubted his words, but dropped the subject anyways.
     Mushroompelt returned shortly, dropping a mouse at her paws. Bubbleflurry ate it with a tail flick of thanks, laying down to rest afterwards. What was the real reason? She thought, puzzled. I don't know, but I'm going to find out.